Korea Investment Partners (KIP): Complete Guide to Korea’s Leading Multi-Sector Venture Capital Giant (2025)
Published on FOFs.kr | Korea’s Premier Fund-of-Funds Intelligence Source
What is Korea Investment Partners (KIP)? Executive Summary
Korea Investment Partners (KIP) is one of Korea’s largest and most established venture capital firms, managing $4 billion in assets under management and operating as the VC arm of Korea Investment Holdings since 1986. This comprehensive analysis covers everything fund-of-funds investors need to know about KIP’s performance, global expansion strategy, and dominant position in Korea’s VC ecosystem.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Founded: 1986 (38+ years experience)
- AUM: $4 billion USD (58 active funds)
- Portfolio: 900+ investments, 6 IPOs, Notable unicorns
- Global Presence: Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Sunnyvale
- Track Record: 2.0x average multiple, 16.7% IRR since 2001
Korea Investment Partners Company Profile: VC Pioneer & Market Leader
Corporate Overview and Business Model
Company Name: Korea Investment Partners Co., Ltd.
Founded: 1986
Headquarters: 10F Asem Tower, 517 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Parent Company: Korea Investment Holdings (KIH) – Public Financial Conglomerate
Investment Focus: Multi-sector VC/PE firm specializing in technology, healthcare, fintech
Investment Stages: Seed, Series A-C, Growth, and Pre-IPO investments
KIP’s Mission and Investment Philosophy
Korea Investment Partners positions itself as a global venture capital firm “ON A MISSION TO BUILD THE FUTURE by backing the global winners of tomorrow.” The firm’s investment philosophy centers on:
- π― Global Market Leadership: Identifying and nurturing future market leaders
- π Scale-Up Expertise: Focusing on companies nearing unicorn status
- π€ Strategic Value Creation: Hands-on support and global network access
- π International Expansion: Bridging Korean innovation with global markets
KIP Leadership Structure: Korea Investment Holdings Ecosystem
Yer-hyun Baek | CEO & President
- Vision: “Asia’s No. 1 venture capital firm”
- Strategy: Global expansion and 10 trillion won AUM target
- Focus: International market penetration and unicorn creation
- Leadership: Driving KIP’s transformation into global VC leader
Korea Investment Holdings (Parent)
- Status: Publicly-listed financial conglomerate (Korea)
- Divisions: Securities, Asset Management, Banking, Credit Finance
- Strategic Role: Provides institutional backing and LP base
Team Structure (42 Total Members)
Partners
Team Members
Investment Professionals
Global Offices
Assets Under Management (AUM): $4 Billion Global Portfolio
$4B
Total AUM (2024)
58
Active Funds
42
Team Members
Fund Performance Metrics (Since 2001)
KIP Investment Performance: Global Portfolio Success Stories
Portfolio Statistics (as of 2025)
π¦ Notable Portfolio Unicorns & Success Stories
- Kakao (KOSDAQ): Korea’s messaging & platform giant
- Naver (KRX): Korea’s leading search engine
- Didi Chuxing: China’s ride-hailing leader
- YG Entertainment: K-pop entertainment powerhouse
π Global Success Portfolio
- Swiggy (India): Food delivery unicorn
- Halodoc (Indonesia): Healthcare platform
- Tiki.vn (Vietnam): E-commerce leader
- Shanghai Henlius Biotech: Biotech IPO success
Investment Strategy: Multi-Sector Global Approach
π¬ Biotechnology and Healthcare
Focus: Medical devices, digital health, biotech
Expertise: FDA approval processes, clinical trials
Portfolio: Osstem Implant, multiple biotech ventures
π» Information Technology
AI & Big Data: Machine learning applications
Enterprise Software: SaaS and B2B solutions
Gaming: Mobile games and entertainment platforms
π° Financial Technology
Digital Payments: Fintech infrastructure
Lending Platforms: Alternative finance solutions
Blockchain: Cryptocurrency and DeFi innovations
π Emerging Technologies
Advanced Materials: Semiconductor applications
Mobility: Electric vehicles and autonomous systems
PropTech: Real estate technology solutions
Global Investment Strategy & Geographic Expansion
KIP Global Office Network
π°π· Seoul
Headquarters & Korea Operations
π¨π³ China
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu
πΈπ¬ Singapore
Southeast Asia Hub (KIPSEA)
πΊπΈ Sunnyvale
Silicon Valley Operations
π Southeast Asia Expansion (KIPSEA)
- Fund Size: $60 million flagship fund
- Strategy: Seed to Series B investments
- LPs: Samsung Life, Korea Development Bank
- Focus: Fintech, PropTech, Enterprise Software
π Investment Distribution
- Korea: Core market focus (58% of portfolio)
- China: 49 investments, major presence
- US: 11 investments, technology partnerships
- Southeast Asia: Growing regional presence
Recent Investment Activity & Market Trends (2024-2025)
2024-2025 Notable Investments
Aldavar (Series A – $7.7M)
Medical simulators using biopolymer technology – Korean startup developing next-generation medical training solutions
Studio Meta K (April 2025)
Media and Information Services (B2B) – Latest investment in content creation and distribution
maihub (Series A – January 2025)
Most recent portfolio addition – technology platform serving enterprise customers
KIP’s Future Growth Strategy (2025-2030)
- π― AUM Expansion: Target 10 trillion won ($7.5B) AUM within 10 years
- π Geographic Growth: European fund launch planned, continued Asia expansion
- π¦ Unicorn Creation: Focus on scale-up investments nearing unicorn status
- π€ Technology Leadership: AI, biotech, and emerging technology investments